Before the pronouncement of the circuit breaker in March, there were concerns about how the poor and needy amongst us would cope with the increasing uncertainty brought about by COVID-19. For many of us, the outbreak of the virus brings about fears and anxieties about safety and well-being. However, these worries are amplified for the marginalised communities, such as homeless individuals, elderly, people with disabilities, residents of halfway houses, poor and needy, and guest workers, who now have to grapple with procuring extra necessities such as surgical masks and hygiene items to protect themselves from the spread of the virus on top of meeting their daily needs.  

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To better address their needs, Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA) partnered with more than 50 other like-minded charities and organisations, to launch SG United Amidst Adversity (SGUAA) #CharitiesCaringTogether.  

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The SGUAA initiative—supported by SG United, SG Cares, the Singapore Kindness Movement and the Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore (IRO)—was a nationwide effort to assist at least 5,000 vulnerable and marginalised individuals amidst the COVID-19 situation, by providing them with Care Packs. 

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Seeking to adhere to health advisories earlier issued by the Ministry of Health, the contemporaneous packing and distribution exercises were brought forward to 26 March 2020, to address the urgent needs of the vulnerable amongst us.  

  

The Care Packs consisted of surgical masks, hand sanitiser, as well as a variety of food items, generously donated by our sponsors. The items were packed by over 200 volunteers and staff on the morning of 26 March at TSL Building, in compliance with the health advisories issued by the Ministry of Health. To ensure the safety of all participants that day, extra precautionary measures in the form of spatial distancing between individuals, as well as temperature-taking, were implemented at the event premises. 

  

Representatives from the various partnering charities and organisations received the Care Packs on behalf of their beneficiaries at a simple distribution exercise in the afternoon. Rev Ezekiel Tan, CEO of SowCare; Rev Samuel Gift Stephen, Chairman of the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach; Dr William Wan, General Secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement; Venerable Seck Kwang Phing, President of IRO and Mr Tan Swee Lim, Chairman of TSL Group Pte Ltd, distributed the care packs to the representatives from the partnering charities and organisations.  

  

Additionally, in partnership with SATA CommHealth, the initiative also provided the partnering charities and volunteers with flu vaccinations at a discounted price of $20.00 (before GST).  

  

Rev Ezekiel Tan, President of Hope Initiative Alliance and CEO of SowCare, shared his sentiments about the initiative in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao on 27 March 2020, “Some of these smaller charities have experienced a decrease in donations because of the COVID-19 situation, and are facing financial difficulties. They do not have as much purchasing power as larger entities, and thus they need our help.”  

  

Affirming these efforts in an official statement, Mr Desmond Lee, then-Minister for Social and Family Development, stated, “This initiative is testimony to what we hope for our society, which is strength and resilience through close partnerships. I would like to thank Hope Initiative Alliance and your partners for your care, dedication, and service during these trying times. Let us continue to work together and do what we can to look out for one another and to support fellow Singaporeans.” 

  

We would like to extend our utmost gratitude to our sponsoring partners for their kind donations. We are also deeply thankful for the support of other donors, partnering organisations and volunteers, in making this nationwide campaign a success. 

  

As our nation braces itself for repercussions of the COVID-19 virus, individuals and organisations can still continue to support these communities through donations and by volunteering assistance. For more information on these various COVID-19 initiatives, visit hia.sg. 

  

For more information about SG United Amidst Adversity #CharitiesCaringTogether, click here!  

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